Jaume Collet-Serra in talks to direct Akira

July 15, 2011 - By Liam Goodwin

In May Albert Hughes, one half of The Hughes Brothers who were responsible for The Book of Eli, left the live-action adaptation of anime graphic novel Akira due to “creative differences”. This left the studio with the task of finding a new director, and it looks like they’ve found one.

According to Variety Spanish director Jaume Collet-Serra is currently in talks to direct. He recently directed Unknown starring Liam Neeson for Warner Bros, and has previously helmed Orphan (2009) and House of Wax (2005).

Harry Potter screenwriter Steve Kloves recently re-wrote the script, and back in March we heard actors such as Robert Pattinson, Chris Pine, Andrew Garfield, Garrett Hedlund, Michael Fassbender and James McAvoy were being considered for lead roles.

For the adaptation of Akira, which reportedly has a budget of $90 million, Warner Bros. has moved the location from Japan to the US, with the story now taking place in a rebuilt New Manhattan where a leader of a biker gang saves his friend from a medical experiment.